Poets honor Pat Parnell at hoot night

Pat Parnell, "an elder statesmen in the poetry community," Poet Laureate Kimberley Cloutier Green says, was honored with a special crowning at the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program at its June Hoot.

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By Jeanné McCartin

seacoastonline.com

By Jeanné McCartin

Posted Jun. 7, 2014 at 2:00 AM

By Jeanné McCartin
Posted Jun. 7, 2014 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

Pat Parnell, "an elder statesmen in the poetry community," Poet Laureate Kimberley Cloutier Green says, was honored with a special crowning at the Portsmouth Poet Laureate Program at its June Hoot.

Parnell was dubbed "Queen of the Hoot"

"The first and possibly only ever," says David Phreaner, the program co-chairman, who announced the honor.

The title, bestowed by the program's board of directors, was selected over other considerations, including "Living Treasure."

Phreaner says the idea to honor Parnell came to him at her recent 90th birthday party. The event attracted nearly 150 guest; 50 of them poets who read in her honor.

"I thought she IS a treasure, and it's time to do something appropriate," Phreaner says. "The board's response was unanimous. Everyone thought this was a terrific idea." Phreaner and the board announced the honor before a packed house. As planned, Parnell was taken by surprise.

The queen was draped in a purple shawl designed by Judi Hilt and crowned with an original design Kristin Fellows headpiece, fashioned of paper and words in honor of Parnell's art.

Parnell responded by standing and treating the crowd to what she called her "Queen Elizabeth wave."

"It's overwhelming," Parnell said, decked out in her royal finery. "This is marvelous."

Parnell, of Stratham, is a poet, teacher and journalist. She is the associate editor of The Poets' Touchstone, the quarterly publication of the Poetry Society of N. H., and author of two collections of poetry, "Snake Woman and Other Explorations: Finding the Female in Divinity" and "Talking with Birches."

Parnell is professor emerita in the writing program of Chester College of New England, Chester, where she was a founder of Compass Rose, the college's journal of the literary and visual arts. She also is the former writer of "Poems from the Hoot," a monthly column for the Portsmouth Herald's Spotlight magazine.

Her work has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies.

Those accomplishments are always mentioned last when people talk about Parnell. Most address how Parnell touched their lives.

"She's a big deal. She's really kind of important to the whole poetry scene in the Seacoast," Green says. "Pat is a faithful supporter of poetry and poets. Many would describe her as the person that initially got them to write and keep writing, that's certainly true in my case."

Adds Green, "Very early on Pat encouraged me and helped me to see myself as someone that had something to offer as a poet. She threw me in and kept me under her wing for a while. ...; She's 90, she's spry, a spitfire, sassy and bold."

Parnell's strongest traits are her clarity and directness, "and she is always kind" — an unusual combination, Green says. "Usually when we describe someone as bold, sassy and direct it's as harsh or thoughtless. But she's neither of those things. She's a generous soul."

Tammi Truax concurs. The former laureate program board member met Parnell at a Hoot.

"I consider her my mentor," Truax says. "What makes her special is her generosity to the poetry community."

Parnell took Truax under her wing and supported her artistic development, Truax says. "But it wasn't exceptional; she did that for everyone. She helps us find our footing on the stage, just teaches. She gives that attention to all the beginners.

Parnell is intelligent, and a born teacher, she adds, "and a remarkably funny person."

Former Laureate John Michael Albert says he recalls Parnell at the earliest Program Hoots back in 1999.

"She's always been a presence, there since the beginning," he says. It was evident from the start that the project, and writing, were of great importance to Parnell, "and that she was there to support everyone."

"Pat is a good example as to how this should work," Albert says. "I asked her to introduce me to the (Portsmouth) City Council when I was made laureate, so that says how much I appreciate her encouragement."

Parnell is not eligible for the laureate position. Laureates must live in Portsmouth or first-tier towns around the city; Stratham is second tier. This played a part in selecting her for the "Queen" honor.

She's been nominated for laureate numerous times, and most likely would have held the position were it allowed.

"But the point is ...; she has no ulterior motive for what she does," Albert says. "She really does this because she loves it."